British PM announces new funding for Commonwealth counter-extremism unit

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday announced 5 million pounds (about 7.52 million U.S. dollars) of funding for a Commonwealth counter-extremism unit, in a bid to strengthen the bloc' ability to counter extremist narrative.

The new investment included 1 million pounds a year for 5 years to help fund the new Commonwealth counter-extremism unit, which is expected to focus on strengthening ability of Commonwealth countries to counter extremism.

Cameron, who was scheduled to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta on Friday, also unveiled additional 200,000 pounds seed funding to expand European counter-radicalization youth network to include the Commonwealth, according to the Downing Street.

"The fight against extremism is something that affects us all. The Commonwealth has a vital role to play in broadening international efforts to counter extremism," Cameron said ahead of the gathering.

"This is the struggle of our generation, but by working together we will defeat this extremist scourge that is a threat to us all," he stressed.

As part of British government's comprehensive strategy for tackling extremism, Cameron wanted "to increase cooperation with countries around the world to share best practice and identify new approaches to countering poisonous ideologies," a Downing Street statement said.

A team of experts will be seconded into a new unit in the Commonwealth Secretariat to work with civil society networks and Commonwealth governments in support of national, regional and international counter-extremism strategies, it added. Endit